Blindsided (Fake Boyfriend #4)(60)

“Talon fell,” I say. “Silly, clumsy quarterback.”

I don’t think Gabby believes me.

“Your uncle pushed me,” Talon says.

She puts her little hands on her hips, and the scowl she gives kills me. She’s so freaking adorable. “Don’t be a bully.”

I try to keep a straight face. “Sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t be a bully.”

“Breakfast,” Mom calls out.

We eat quickly and head out, and I can feel something brewing in my gut—a sense or need to do well and show Talon I appreciate him coming to get my ass out of bed even though things are weird between us after last night.

He thinks I don’t see the way he’s been looking at me during our training sessions. He knows my head’s not in it, and he’s worried. If I’m honest with myself, I’m worried too.

An athlete’s motivation always comes from the need to win—the need to fight. When I injured my leg, a little of that died for me. And then with the complication after surgery, it died a little more. I don’t know if there’s enough left to save my career.

Snow fell a few nights ago, but it’s all melted away today. The walk to Talon’s apartment building warms me a little but not enough, and it’s days like this I miss the sunshine and heat of California. I only lived there for four years, but it’s like those years erased my entire childhood love of New York winters.

Talon doesn’t talk, which is concerning in itself.

It makes me want to do better and show him I can get back on my feet, even if I don’t one hundred percent believe it myself.

So, I begin to walk faster. My leg’s good today, and I haven’t had any sciatic pain for over twenty-four hours now. I know not to push past my limits, but fear has been keeping me from pushing anything.

If I don’t test my limits, I don’t know what they are.

And shit, isn’t that an accurate phrase for all corners of my life right now. Instead of telling Talon exactly what I want, I’m still letting him lead this.

He asked me what I needed last night, and I lied to him. I said I needed space to think when all I want is for him to be confident in us. Which is unfair to both of us, because how can he be sure when he doesn’t even know if I am?

With that thought, I push to prove myself, and we’re jogging by the time we make it to Talon’s place.

“How’s the leg?” he asks as we enter the lobby.

I shake it out. “Good, I think. I want to go harder today.”

Talon relaxes into a triumphant grin.





Chapter Twenty-Three





TALON





Miller gives me one hundred and ten percent for the first time in the three days I’ve been here.

I don’t know what shifted, but something has lit a fire under his ass, and I’m definitely not complaining.

While things are slightly off between us after last night, I know it’s not going to last. At least, I hope it won’t. Not after I tell him I don’t need to think about what I want, because on some level, I’ve known for years.

Bottom line: I want him.

It’s gonna suck having to hide, and I have no idea how this is gonna work long-term, but whatever needs to happen for us to be together, I’ll do it.

I hold out my hand and help Miller off the bench press. “Congratulations, you’ve earned yourself a blowjob when we go upstairs.”

Sweat drips off Miller’s brow as he scowls at me. “That’s all? Yesterday I was promised ass, and that was only for two hours. We’ve been here all day.”

“Hmm, true. I do still owe you for that.”

The heat in Miller’s eyes suggests we may not make it upstairs before he jumps me, and if it weren’t for the unpredictability of people coming and going in this gym, I’d totally take him up on it.

Miller’s so eager to get upstairs we even take the stairs instead of the elevator that takes a million years to get up to my apartment. Miller slows when we get to the top, and I assume he’s exhausted from the day, but once we reach the landing, he winces and kinda hobbles to the door.

“Pushed your leg too far?”

“Shoulda taken the elevator.”

I spin on my heel as I open my apartment door and pull him inside by his shirt. He stumbles a little, and I grimace.

“Okay, change of plans. We’ll shower fast, and then we’ll go to bed where I’ll do all the work. You need to rest your leg.”

Miller smirks and leads me into the bathroom.

After a quick shower with lots of grabby hands, I throw Miller a towel. “Dry yourself off and then lie in the middle of the bed.”

Miller’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Think you’re gonna be the bossy one this time around?”

“My ass, my rules.”

He looks like he wants to argue, but he keeps his mouth shut and does as I say.

When I finish drying myself, I make my way to the bedside table for supplies and throw them on the bed next to Miller.

I never thought the sight of a man waiting in bed for me could turn my crank the way it does. Miller’s hard lines and muscles take up most of the king bed, but my gaze lands on the massive cock pointing straight up toward his stomach.

I can do this. Just like I hadn’t sucked a cock up until recently, this is the same deal. No woman ever died from anal. I’ll be fine. Although a few did say they felt like they were being ripped apart …